Western & Southern Annuity Review (2026)

Western & Southern's background and financial strength

Cincinnati is where this company got its start back in 1888, and 137 years on, it still runs as a mutual: owned outright by its policyholders, with no shareholders and no private equity backers pulling returns out of the business. Since then it has picked up a handful of related insurers under one roof. Integrity Life and Columbus Life both write business under the Western & Southern umbrella, National Integrity Life handles New York specifically, and Gerber Life joined the family through a 2019 purchase.

Integrity Life, the entity that actually issues Western & Southern's annuities, holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, affirmed in March 2025. That puts it one notch below the A++ carriers like New York Life, and level with names such as MassMutual's parent organization. Unlike those mutual giants, though, Western & Southern distributes annuities through independent agents and IMOs rather than a captive sales force, which is why you can find and compare its products through an independent shop like ours. With roughly $6.5 billion in annuity sales in 2024, this is not a small side business either; it is a serious, high-volume MYGA issuer with over a century of mutual company stability behind it.

What annuities does Integrity Life sell?

• SmartSelect MYGA. The core product, offered in 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 year terms. Most terms include a 10% penalty-free withdrawal each year after the first, along with waivers for nursing home confinement, terminal illness and unemployment on most terms. The minimum premium is $10,000, and it is available in nearly every state through independent agents and IMOs.
• SmartSelect premium rate tiers. Deposits of $100,000 or more typically qualify for a higher credited rate band than the standard tier.
• Fixed indexed annuities. Growth tied to a market index with principal protection, plus optional income riders for buyers who want a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit later.
• Single premium immediate annuities. A lump sum converts into income that starts right away, backed by the same A+ balance sheet, which matters most to buyers who want confidence their monthly check keeps coming for decades.

Rates on any of these products change regularly, so use the quote box on this page for current numbers rather than a rate you saw somewhere else.

Who fits Western & Southern best?

• MYGA buyers who don't want to trade rate for safety. SmartSelect often prices close to A-rated competitors while carrying Integrity Life's A+ backing, a combination that is genuinely hard to find elsewhere.
• Buyers anywhere in the country, including New York. National Integrity Life handles New York contracts, something many independent-channel carriers cannot offer.
• Clients who want an advisor who can shop the market. Because distribution runs through independent agents and IMOs, your strategist can put Integrity Life side by side with other carriers instead of only offering one company's products.
• Larger depositors. Buyers placing $100,000 or more typically move into a better rate tier while keeping the same A+ security.

Other companies to consider

If Western & Southern's Integrity Life is on your list, these carriers are worth comparing:

• MassMutual Ascend: MassMutual's annuity arm, another strong mutual-backed option
• New York Life: A++ rated, sold through career and independent channels

We are appointed with Integrity Life and can quote its SmartSelect MYGA next to other top-rated carriers so you can see the actual dollar difference before you decide.